Missing Teeth: Replacing Them is Easier Than Ever

I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!

Keeping Your Braces In Great Shape During Your Aligning Process

Dentist Blog

Braces provide a relatively safe and efficient way to straighten the teeth. There are multiple types of braces, but each typically includes an archwire, brackets, and a method of attaching the brackets to the wire.

The archwire of traditional braces is attached to the brackets using elastic bands. However, for braces that include self-ligating brackets, the archwire is simply fed through the tiny holes in the brackets.

The brackets of traditional and self-ligating braces can be constructed of a metal or ceramic material, depending on the aesthetic desires of the patient. Metal is more easily seen in the mouth, while dental ceramic brackets offer a more discreet alignment option.

Regardless of the type of braces that are selected to straighten your teeth, precautions must be taken to avoid damaging your braces during your aligning treatment. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your braces in great shape as your teeth are being straightened.

Avoid Hard and Chewy Foods

Foods that are hard or chewy can be especially damaging to your braces. Hard foods can break a bracket or bend the wiring of the braces. Ceramic brackets are especially vulnerable to cracks and breaks from the bite pressure. 

Chewy foods can also cause problems as they become trapped in the appliance. The malleable metal components of the braces can be disfigured as the chewy items are removed. 

In order to keep your braces damage-free as you eat, try to avoid any items that your dentist has warned you to refrain from eating. As soon as your alignment process is complete, you can eat the items again.

Use the Special Cleaning Tools Suggested By Your Dentist

Cleaning teeth that are covered by braces can be especially cumbersome. You must safely navigate around the appliance without damaging its components and still clean your teeth thoroughly.

To aid you in the cleaning process, your dentist may recommend special cleaning tools, such as a floss threader, specialized string floss, and an oral irrigator. A floss threader helps weave the dental floss around the wires and brackets so that it can safely reach between your teeth. Specialized floss that is less likely to shred or become caught in the brackets can also be used.

Additionally, an oral irrigator can be employed. It uses a safe stream of water to help flush debris from the teeth without damaging your braces. The controls on the irrigator allow you to adjust the intensity of the water flow to suit your preferences.

To learn more ways to avoid damaging your braces, schedule a consultation with an orthodontics professional in your area.

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9 September 2018